STACK #163 May 2018

GAMES

FEATURE

And we even got the opportunity to include legends, with John McEnroe and Andre Agassi.” Those looking to carve their own path with a career can expect full customisation, from face shape to height and even type of serve. “You will start by creating your very own player in the career mode. It goes from choosing the face of your player among a selection of pre-rendered possibilities to your height, body type, forehand and backhand, service type, etc. On top of this, we really want players to be able to have their own playstyles and characteristics. Which is why, every time you level up, you will earn points that you can spend in different archetypes such as serve and volley, defence and offence. And of course, there is the skill cards system that adds to the level of customisation. With all that combined, you will be able to define a playstyle that looks nothing like the other players’.” This also extends to cosmetic upgrades. “Last but not least, when playing the career mode or online games, you will earn credits that you can spend to buy t-shirts, shorts, shoes... but also new racquets, chords, grip, anti-vibrators, things like that.” As for post-launch, the dev team is committed to increasing the female roster, and adding a bunch of new equipment. “We are also aiming at including more officially licensed content, such as equipment (new racquets, shoes or outfits) and tournaments or stadiums. We will also add new game modes such as the doubles after the launch. This one is very specific, as the gameplay is very different from the standard 1v1 tennis games. We can’t just duplicate players on courts and let them play, and for these reasons we are taking the necessary time to have a mode that is balanced and functional. The game won’t just be fun to play on Day One: we hope to entertain players for a very long time.”

Pack 'er up, boys What was involved in creating the different packshots for different regions? “Our idea was to create a pack that would appeal to every player, no matter where they are or who they cheer for. Roger Federer being the greatest tennis player of all time, it was an easy decision to get him as our flagship. And then, depending on where you live, you can get a packshot that displays local players, such as Garbiñe Muguruza and Roberto Bautista Agut in Spain, Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev in Germany, and of course Nick Kyrgios in Australia. It’s quite a long process as we have to discuss with all of the players individually, but they are all very eager to participate and make sure that the game is enjoyed by everybody.”

“Before each match, you will be able to create a deck of five cards that will grant bonuses,” says Jacquemain, adding that this will have more of an impact on the game than some may think. “These cards trigger under specific conditions, such as scoring an ace during the final set or serving for the break. You can design it to either increase the strengths of your avatar (serve, forehand, backhand, etc.) or balance it by compensating for the avatar’s weak points.”

skip specific tournaments because they don’t have time for it or they want to preserve their stamina and strength for the next upcoming tournament. This is what Roger Federer did with Roland Garros for instance: skipping the clay tournaments will help him to get in a better shape when Wimbledon will start.” Jacquemain clearly knows his tennis. “So, when your own avatar has to travel from one country to another that is very far away, the jetlag and travel fatigue will impact your general level of stamina; you won’t start your next match with a complete stamina bar. Unless, of course, if the player chooses to rest before getting into another tournament. It’s very important to keep an eye on your general stamina, as a low stamina level would lead your avatar to injuries, [stopping] you from playing other matches. This concept seemed very important to us, as it adds another layer to the career mode. It’s not just about winning tennis matches, it’s about doing what a real pro tennis player does.” In addition to the injury system, the devs wanted to set aside their game from the competition even further, and have decided to implement a skill card system.

We worked on having a roster that would be representative of the pro circuits as they are

One of the turning points of a good tennis game is its roster, and Jacquemain assures us that Tennis World Tour ’s roster will be quite comprehensive. “We worked on having a roster that would be representative of the pro circuits as they are: a mix of different talents and playstyle. We have more than 30 different players in the game. Confirmed players such as Angelique Kerber, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka – but also young players, whether they are already stepping into the Top 10 like Zverev or soon- to-be players like Hyeon Chung or Kyrgios.

• Tennis World Tour is out May 22

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